Running-gear for vehicles



(No Model.)

J. W. LEEK. RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

No. 475,578. Patented May 24, 1892.

INVENTOR,

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. LEEK, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

RUNNING-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming; part of Letters Patent No. 475,578, dated May 24,1892.

Application filed November 18, 1891. fien'al No. 412,314. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. LEEK, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Running-Gear forVehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to running-gear for wagons or other vehicles.

The object of my invention is, first, to provide a fifth-wheel which hasa front and rear support for the wagon-bed and which is radiallyextended a long distance from the kingbolt, whereby a short turn isobtained as Well as a firm support for the bed, side-rockin g beingobviated.

Another object of my invention is to employ the fifth-wheel as a supportfor the springs which connect it to the front axle.

The various features of my invention are fully set forth in thedescription of the accompanying drawings, making a part of thisspecification, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view. Fig. 2is asectional elevation on line 00 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective Viewof the rear support. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the front support.Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the axle, one of the springs, and theshackle.

1 represents a coupling-bar on which the wagon body or bed is mounted.

2 represents a metallic ring forming the fifth-wheel. It is preferablymade with a chord on two sides in a line parallel with the plane of thesprings 3.

4 5 represent spider-arms, the outer ends of which are secured to thering 2 and the inner ends crossed and braced to form a bearing for theking-bolt 6. The rear ends of the arms 4 and 5 are connected to thespring and fifthwheel by the clip 7. The front ends of said arms areclipped to the ring.

8 represents secondary clips for securing the spring to the fifth-wheel.The-springs 3 are coupled to the axle 9 by means of shackles 10.

A represents a central spring clipped to the axle 9 at its front end andthe rear end extending back past the king-bolt. It is pierced to receivethe same and it is clipped to the cross-arms 11, which arms are boltedto the spider-arms 4 and 5. In the preferred form of construction thesearms land 5 are arched up at the center, as shown in Fig. 2, so as toform a seat for the coupling-barround the king-bolt. By means of thisarching of these rings a bolster-block is dispensed with, though thelatter would be a sufficient mode of constructing the arms.

B represents a bracket having the stirrup O,in which the rear portion ofthe fifth-wheel rests and journals. Said bracket is rigidly secured tothe under side of the coupling-bar.

D represents a curved bracket bolted to the forward end of thecoupling-bar. This bracket is only employed when the front end of thecoupling bar is upturned, as shown in Fig. 2. E represents afriction-bar, preferably made integral therewith, and forms the fronthearing on the fifth-wheel of the coupling-bar. These parts D and E maybe dispensed with when the coupling-bar is straight. This front supportof the coupling-bar upon the fifthwheel and the rear support of thefifth-wheel in the stirrup furnish a strong coupling support of thewagon-body with the front runhing-gear.

12 represents steps, which are connected to the springs and fifth-wheelby the clips 8. This mode of connecting the coupling-bar, fifth-wheel,springs, and steps obviates side motion when weight is placed upon thesteps. It will be observed that the ring 2 is very large and furnishesan extended support in front and rear of the king-bolt, with the centercorrespondingly removed a long distance from the front axle, therebyallowing a very short turn of the wagon, securing all the parts in afirm substantial manner, and obviating side-rocking of the wagon-bed. Asthe fifth- Wheel connection and its connections extend from spring tospring, the strain placed upon one side of the body is practicallyequalized upon all the springs. The central spring is attached to thetop of the axle, while the side springs are attached to the under sideof the axle. This mode of connecting the two springs prevents the axlefrom rolling and avoids undue cross-strain upon the springs.

I have shown the ordinary form of coupling-bar. It is obvious that thismay be variously modified and made part of the wagonbed or may beseparated and attached to the body without affecting the principles ofconstruction herein shown and described. I have shown the center springhaving butone leaf, so that it serves rather as a coupling-bar, beingmore flexible than the side springs and not liable to be broken orinterfere with the action of said side springs, which support the majorportion of the strain of the load.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a vehiclerunning-gear, the combination, with an axle, a coupling-bar, and afifthwheel, of the spider-arms 4 5, crossing each other and secured attheir ends to the fifthwheel, side springs secured at their front endsto the axle and at their rear ends secured to the fifth wheel and therear ends of the spider arms 4 and 5, the arms 11 11, secured to thespider-arms, and the center spring secured to the axle and at its rearend to the arms 11 11, and a king-bolt 6, passing through holes therefor in the spider-arms and the center spring, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a vehicle running-gear, the combination, with the coupling-bar, ofthe bracket B,

fifth-wheel supported in said stirrup and bearing against saidfriction-bearing, an axle, springs connected to the extremities of saidaxle and to the fifth-wheel, cross-bars the front ends of which areconnected to the fifthwheel and the rear ends of which are connected tothe said springs, and a central spring connected to said axle and to thecoupling-bar, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have. hereunto set my hand.

JOHN W. LEEK.

lVitnesses:

T. SIMMONS, C. W. MILES.

